Morawiecki made this demand during a visit from Swiss President Ignazio Cassis on Monday. “The assets of Russian oligarchs in Switzerland must be confiscated. I call on the President to see to it that Switzerland tackles this topic decisively,” Morawiecki said at a press conference following talks between the leaders of both countries.
Last week, Switzerland said it would adopt a fourth wave of European Union sanctions which now extend to hundreds of individuals and dozens of companies. The measures can stop assets from being transferred or sold but stop short of stripping away ownership rights.
Cassis responded cautiously to Morawiecki’s demand. “[Sanctioned Russians] cannot dispose of their assets. If they own companies in Switzerland, in the commodities sector or elsewhere, these companies are also covered by the measures,” Cassis said. “There have already been bankruptcies.”
Cassis travelled to Poland to discuss European security policy, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the resultant humanitarian crisis. Some 3.5 million people have fled Ukraine, with more than half of the refugees arriving in Poland.
Millions of refugees
Switzerland has earmarked a quarter of its CHF80 million ($86 million) humanitarian aid package to assisting people who have fled the war. On Friday, the government announced it had dispatched more than 500 tonnes of relief supplies to the region and sent a team of experts from the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit (SHA) to both Poland and Moldova.
The Swiss delegation visited the transfer point for Switzerland’s humanitarian relief supplies in Lublin and talked to Swiss experts and NGOs working in Poland.
Around 12 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance due to the war, both in Ukraine and in other countries that have accepted refugees, the Swiss government estimated on FridayExternal link.
On Tuesday, Cassis will travel to Moldova to meet with President Maia Sandu to discuss how Switzerland can help the country cope with the flow of refugees.
Switzerland has received more than 11,000 Ukrainian refugees, of which 4,106 had been taken in by private households. The authorities are calling on more people to take in refugees to ease the burden on municipal accommodation.
The government has set up a special asylum unit, comprising several ministerial departments, the police, customs and army, to outline a strategy and coordinate the extraordinary refugee situation.
Switzerland to introduce flight passenger database
This content was published on
Switzerland plans to introduce a flight passenger database to collect and process personal data in a bid to combat terrorism and serious crime.
Government plans to invest over CHF16bn in Swiss rail network
This content was published on
The federal government intends to invest CHF16.4 billion ($18.1 billion) in railway infrastructure between 2025 and 2028, CHF2 billion more than for the current period.
Swiss to vote on pension reform and biodiversity in September
This content was published on
Swiss citizens will vote on occupational pension schemes and a biodiversity initiative on September 22, the Federal Council announced on Wednesday.
Ukraine peace talks: 50 countries have confirmed participation
This content was published on
To date, 50 countries out 160 invited delegations have confirmed they will attend the Ukraine peace conference, held in central Switzerland in mid-June, according to Swiss public radio, RTS.
Federer-backed On boosts forecast after sneaker demand rises
This content was published on
Swiss footwear company On Holding AG posted strong first-quarter revenue, boosted by demand for its running shoes and new line of training apparel.
Michael Schumacher’s watches fetch CHF4 million at Swiss auction
This content was published on
Watches belonging to Formula 1 great Michael Schumacher sold for around CHF4 million ($4.41 million) at auction house Christie's in Geneva on Tuesday.
Macron will attend Swiss summit on Ukraine, says Zelensky
This content was published on
French President Emmanuel Macron will attend the peace conference on Ukraine at the Swiss Bürgenstock resort next month, according to Volodymyr Zelensky.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Ukraine’s embattled leader urges Swiss banks to drop Russian oligarchs
This content was published on
The embattled leader urged Switzerland to take a stronger stance on Russian oligarchs, saying they help finance war crimes in his country.
Swiss media on the lookout for Putin’s alleged mistress – and Russian oligarchs
This content was published on
Switzerland’s weekend press focused on the whereabouts of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s alleged mistress and blacklisted oligarchs.
Ukrainian officials shame Nestlé over Russia presence
This content was published on
Ukraine's top government officials have accused the Swiss multinational of being complicit in Russia’s "war crimes" in their country.
Switzerland will adopt fourth EU sanctions package against Russia
This content was published on
The Swiss government has announced it will implement the European Union’s latest round of sanctions that includes a ban on the export of luxury goods to Russia.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.